The Music of Star Wars: 30th Anniversary Collection

John Williams

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The Music of Star Wars: 30th Anniversary Collection Review

by Blair Sanderson

Sony's 2007 deluxe box set The Music of Star Wars will undoubtedly excite avid collectors, but anyone who already has the soundtracks to Episode IV: A New Hope, Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, and Episode VI: The Return of the Jedi will probably find the extras included here a poor return for the expense. Yes, it's cool to have these soundtracks reissued in small replicas of their original LP jackets, and the bonus Star Wars: The Corellian Edition (a greatest-hits compilation from all six Star Wars movies) and the CD-ROM of vintage graphics will make this set desirable for many. But there is little incentive to acquire this hefty collection if you've been a devoted fan who already owns the essentials. There is a sense of overkill here that may feel familiar from previous reissues of the soundtracks and the VHS and DVD Special Editions of the films, as well as a feeling of incompleteness (where is that embarrassing Ewok Song that's been cut from the revised version of Return of the Jedi?); it's possible that purchasers of this 30th anniversary edition will have to face some other configuration of the same material in future reissues. But all these caveats apply only to Star Wars addicts, who will likely disregard them and splurge on this compendium anyway. For everyone else, such as those who may be somewhat interested in the saga and attracted to John Williams' epic music, this set may be a good gift idea.

Track Listing - Disc 1

	Title/Composer	Performer	Time	Stream
1	Twentieth Century-Fox Fanfare Alfred Newman	John Williams	00:22	Amazon
Star Wars, Episode IV: A New Hope, film score
2	Main Title / Rebel Blockade Runner John Williams	John Williams	02:14	Amazon
3	Imperial Attack John Williams	John Williams	06:42
4	The Dune Sea of Tatooine / Jawa Sandcrawler John Williams	John Williams	05:01	Amazon
5	The Moisture Farm John Williams	John Williams	02:25	Amazon
6	The Hologram / Binary Sunset John Williams	John Williams	04:08	Amazon
7	Landspeeder Search / Attack of the Sand People John Williams	John Williams	03:20	Amazon
8	Tales of a Jedi Knight / Learn About the Force John Williams	John Williams	04:28	Amazon
9	Burning Homestead John Williams	John Williams	02:50
10	Mos Eisley Spaceport John Williams	John Williams	02:16
11	Cantina Band John Williams	John Williams	02:46	Amazon
12	Cantina Band #2 John Williams	John Williams	03:54	Amazon
13	Archival bonus track: Binary Sunset (Alternate) John Williams	John Williams	16:59	Amazon

Track Listing - Disc 2

	Title/Composer	Performer	Time
Star Wars, Episode IV: A New Hope, film score
1	Princess Leia's theme John Williams	John Williams	04:27
2	The Millennium Falcon / Imperial Cruiser Pursuit John Williams	John Williams	03:51
3	Destruction of Alderaan John Williams	John Williams	01:32
4	The Death Star / The Stormtroopers John Williams	John Williams	03:34
5	Wookie Prisoner / Detention Block Ambush John Williams	John Williams	04:01
6	Shootout in the Cell Bay / Dianoga John Williams	John Williams	03:47
7	The Trash Compactor John Williams	John Williams	03:06
8	The Tractor Beam / Chasm Crossfire John Williams	John Williams	05:18
9	Ben Kenobi's Death / Tie Fighter Attack John Williams	John Williams	03:51
10	The Battle of Yavin (Launch from the Fourth Moon / X-Wings Draw Fire / Use the Force) John Williams	John Williams	09:06
11	The Throne Room / End Title John Williams	John Williams	05:37

Track Listing - Disc 3

	Title/Composer	Performer	Time
1	Twentieth Century-Fox Fanfare Alfred Newman	John Williams	00:22
Star Wars, Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, film score
2	Main Title / The Ice Planet Hoth John Williams	John Williams	08:08
3	The Wampa's Lair / Vision of Obi-Wan / Snowspeeders Take Flight John Williams	John Williams	08:48
4	The Imperial Probe / Aboard the Executor John Williams	John Williams	04:24
5	The Battle of Hoth (Ion Cannon / Imperial Walkers / Beneath the AT-AT / Escape in the Millennium Fa John Williams	John Williams	14:48
6	The Asteroid Field John Williams	John Williams	04:15
7	Arrival on Dagobah John Williams	John Williams	04:52
8	Luke's Nocturnal Visitor John Williams	John Williams	02:35
9	Han Solo and the Princess John Williams	John Williams	03:26
10	Jedi Master Revealed / Mynock Cave John Williams	John Williams	05:43
11	The Training of a Jedi Knight / The Magic Tree John Williams	John Williams	05:16

Track Listing - Disc 4

	Title/Composer	Performer	Time
Star Wars, Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, film score
1	The Imperial March John Williams	John Williams	03:02
2	Yoda's Theme John Williams	John Williams	03:29
3	Attacking a Star Destroyer John Williams	John Williams	03:04
4	Yoda and the Force John Williams	John Williams	04:02
5	Imperial Starfleet Deployed / City in the Clouds John Williams	John Williams	06:03
6	Lando's Palace John Williams	John Williams	03:53
7	Betrayal at Bespin John Williams	John Williams	03:46
8	Deal with Dark Lord John Williams	John Williams	02:36
9	Carbon Freeze / Darth Vader's Trap / Departure of Boba Fett John Williams	John Williams	11:50
10	The Clash of Lightsabers John Williams	John Williams	04:17
11	Rescue from Cloud City / Hyperspace John Williams	John Williams	09:08
12	The Rebel Fleet / End Title John Williams	John Williams	06:27

Track Listing - Disc 5

	Title/Composer	Performer	Time
1	Twentieth Century-Fox Fanfare Alfred Newman	John Williams	00:22
Star Wars, Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, film score
2	Main Title / Approaching The Death Star / Tatooine Rendezvous John Williams	John Williams	09:17
3	The Droids Are Captured John Williams	John Williams	01:17
4	Bounty for a Wookie John Williams	John Williams	02:50
5	Han Solo Returns John Williams	John Williams	04:01
6	Luke Confronts Jabba / Den of the Rancor / Sarlacc Sentence John Williams	John Williams	08:48
7	The Pit of Carkoon / Sail Barge Assault John Williams	John Williams	06:02
8	The Emperor Arrives / The Death of Yoda / Obi-Wan's Revelation John Williams	John Williams	10:57
9	Alliance Assembly John Williams	John Williams	02:10
10	Shuttle Tydirium Approaches Endor John Williams	John Williams	04:06
11	Speeder Bike Chase / Land of the Ewoks John Williams	John Williams	09:38
12	The Levitation / Threepio's Bedtime Story John Williams	John Williams	02:44
13	Source Music: Jabba's Baroque Recital John Williams	John Williams	03:03
14	Jedi Rocks (for the film Return of the Jedi) Jerry Hey	John Williams	02:49
Star Wars, Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, film score
15	Archival bonus track: Sail Barge Assault (Alternate) John Williams	John Williams	05:06

Track Listing - Disc 6

	Title/Composer	Performer	Time
Star Wars, Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, film score
1	Parade of the Ewoks John Williams	John Williams	03:27
2	Luke and Leia John Williams	John Williams	04:45
3	Brother and Sister / Father and Son / The Fleet Enters Hyperspace / Heroic Ewok John Williams	John Williams	10:39
4	Emperor's Throne Room John Williams	John Williams	03:25
5	The Battle Of Endor 1 (Into the Trap / Forest Ambush / Scout Walker Scramble / Prime Weapon Fires) John Williams	John Williams	11:50
6	The Lightsaber / The Ewok Battle John Williams	John Williams	04:31
7	The Battle Of Endor 2 (Leia is Wounded / The Duel Begins / Overtaking the Bunker / The Dark Side Be John Williams	John Williams	10:02
8	The Battle Of Endor 3 (Superstructure Chase / Darth Vader's Death / The Main Reactor) John Williams	John Williams	06:03
9	Leia's News / Light of the Force John Williams	John Williams	03:21
10	Victory Celebration / End Title John Williams	John Williams	08:33
11	Source Music: Ewok Feast / Part of the Tribe John Williams	John Williams	04:00
12	Archival bonus track: The Forest Battle (Concert Suite) John Williams	John Williams	04:06

Track Listing - Disc 7

	Title/Composer	Performer	Time
Star Wars, Episode I: The Phantom Menace, film score
1	Star Wars Main Title Theme and The Arrival At Naboo John Williams	John Williams	02:56
2	The Flag Parade John Williams	John Williams	02:11
3	Qui-Gon's Noble End John Williams	John Williams	03:48
Star Wars, Episode II: Attack of the Clones, film score
4	Jango's Escape John Williams	John Williams	03:49
5	Yoda And The Younglings John Williams	John Williams	03:57
Star Wars, Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, film score
6	General Grievous John Williams	John Williams	04:07
7	Anakin's Dark Deeds John Williams	John Williams	04:05
Star Wars, Episode IV: A New Hope, film score
8	Imperial Attack John Williams	John Williams	06:45
9	Ben Kenobi's Death / Tie Fighter Attack John Williams	John Williams	03:55
Star Wars, Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, film score
10	Yoda And The Force John Williams	John Williams	04:06
11	The Clash Of Lightsabers John Williams	John Williams	04:10
Star Wars, Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, film score
12	Sail Barge Assault John Williams	John Williams	05:05
13	End Title (From Star Wars Episode VI) John Williams	John Williams	06:04